Sorting device



April 19,1921. 1,625,711

G. W. COX, JR

SORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 26. 1925 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Patented 19, 192.7.

STATES imam PATENT GFFEQE.

GEORGE W. COX, JR., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR- TONA- TIDNAL ASSORTING COIVIFANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ACOR- ?O RA'IION OF DELAWARE.

SORTING DEVICE.

Application filed September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,893.

This invention relates to improvements in sorting machines or devices,and especially to machines for sorting promiscuously arranged papers orother articles, into groups or classes, in accordance with indiciacarried by the panels.

In my Patents Nos. 1,533,697 and 1,533,- 698, issued April 14, 1925 Ihave covered instrumentalities adapted to facilitate the operation ofarranging pap rs in exact alphabetical, or in exact numerical order. Thepresent invention however is intended to facilitate the operation ofarranging all papers of a certain classification into one compartment,and all papers of another classification ito another compartment, thenumber of the separated compartments be dependent upon the variety ofclassifications into which the papers are to be divided. In eti'ect, thepresent invention is intend d to aboliah the well-known pigeonholesystem of sorting, in that it may provide the same number of classifiedspaces, occupying a very small fraction of the room required for apigeon-hole battery, which spaces are normally closed except for thatportion thereof which is occupied by the papers already inserted.

The structure embodying the invention is ct great utility in the sortingor groupings of all promiscuously arranged papers, or articles whichcarry class indicia. In hautiling bank checks in the clearing houses thechecks must be assorted in accordance with the name of the bank uponwhich each check 's drawn, and the name of such bank is the classindicia herein referred to. The structure is of equal utility in thesorting of mail in the post ofiices, the class indicia being the State.the city, or the street, forming a part of the address. in departmentstores, in the sorting of sales slips, the indicia may be represented bythe names or symbols indicating the particular depart ments.

in .ae pigeon-hole sort, is well known, the maximum s3 ice is provided,and in most instances only a small proportion of such space is utilizedduring the regular sorting operation, the pigeon-hole cases not only being unsightly, but occupying a very large unused space. Furthermore theoperator is required to cover this entire space in his sort, resultingin needless waste of time and exertion.

It is the object of this invention therefore to provide a multiplicityof normally closed SPSCGS. and means for opening such spaces as desired,and in accordance with the class indicia carried by the article beingsorted, all of such spaces being within easy reach of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means permitting ofgradual automatic separation of the walls defining said spaces, as thelatter become filled with the articles being sorted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means automaticallyclosing each opened space after the article has been deposited therein.

Other objects of the invention will be made apparent in the followingspecification when taken in connection with the drawings forming a partthereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the index-carryingtab, and,

F 6 is a perspective view of the same portion of the tab and oi theindex card and holder, before assembly.

New. referring specifically to the drawso ings showing one embodiment ofthe invention, and in which similar reference numerals indicate likeparts throughout the several views. the machine as here shown comprisesa base 1, having side rails 2. A plurality of leaves 3 are positioned onedge on said base 1, each leaf being provided with an upstanding tab 4at one end and a similar tab 5 at the other end. In the presentembodiment of the invention I have 9 -.ment-of the leaves at theleit't.presently appear further means are proillustrated the use of only twotabs carried by the leaves, but the latter may be elon-- gated andformed with three or more tabs if desired. it will he noted that thetabs l term a row rL and the tabs 5 a row 13. extending longitudinallyof the machine. Eat-h leaf is also provided with a short narrow stub 6,extending in the same plane as-the tabs el and5, for a purpose to behereinafter set forth.

The lower edges of the leaves rest upon the floor of the base 1, belowthe top ofthe rails 52, and each leaf is freely movable longitudinallyof the rails 2and of the base 1, one of the said rails limiting lateralmove- As will videditor limiting movement of the leaves to the right.

a iormdedbaseior tlieleaves, facilitating sliding movementlongitudinallyof the upper surface of the base 1, and the tilting movement of theleaves during the sorting operation.

'A 'front rail 8 and a rear rail 9 extend "between and are secured tothe ends of the to. A- movable platform 10 is hingedly connected M11, 11to the rear rail 9, the front end of saidplatform being equipped withbifurcated flangeslQ which straddle thumb screws 13 carried by the frontrail 8 and adapted to detachably secure the platform 10 to saidrail, inthe'position shown inFig. 1. The platform 10 isalso provided with alongitudinally extending slot 14, adapted to enclose the row of stubs 6,as clearly shown in Fig. l, and with a vertically extending flange15.fadapted for contact of the papersinseit-ed'between thetabs l, andtolimit movement of said papers to the right.

Each leaf 3 is provided with an extension 16, integral with theitab 5,as clearly showniu F 1 and 3. 'ln the sorting operatioin certain papersare placed. between the tabs 4:. and certain others betweenthe tabs 5,the papers extending to the right of the "tabs in the particularembodiment of the invention as here illustrated. The lefthand end o'feach paper isheld between the tabs 4. or 5, and the right hand ends ot'all papers placed between the tabs 4 are held between and supported bythe stubs (5, and the extensions 16 similarly support the ends of thepapers placed between the tabs 5. Atahle l7 is'securedto the rails ofthe housing, and extends outwardly to the right of the machine, and isprovided with a flange 18 which prevents forward movement of the papersplaced in the row B, in front of the first tab 5. It will be understoodthat all papers placed between the tabs of the row A will rest upon theplatform 10, and all papers placed between the tabs in the row B willrestniponthe table 17.

It will be noted that each of the tabs =l is provided at its top edgewitha forwardly extending zindex holder if), the front taco of theholder being downwardly and in- "wardly inclined with respect to thebody of the tab it. The holder 19 is formed from a strip 'of'thi'n metalwhich bent at substantially a right angle, forming the sections '20 and21. The upper section 20 is transversely cut to the point of juncturewith the lower section 21, to provide three card-retaining stripsQQ, 23and 2 t, lcat'ing the free sections 20' and 2-0", on each side oft-hestrip 23, except where joined to the section 21. as clearly shown inFig. (5. The upper corners of the free sections .20 and 20 are turneddownwardly, to permit of the insertion of an index card In insertingsaid card the end is inserted beneath the strip 22 or 2st, and the thumbof the operator presses downwardly upon the card 25 andalso upon one ofthe free sections 20 or 20", and, the said section, being of springmetal, will flex under pres- :sure and move away fromthe retainingstrips 22, and the index card may be positioned under the strips 22, 23and 2st. linme'diately upon removal or the pressure of the thumb oftheoperator, the tree section :20 or-QO will resiliently return to normalposition and clamp the index card 25 against the retaining strips.

In order to retain the holder 19 in proper position,=ears 26, 26, arestruck from the body of the tab 4 and are bent at an angle to the bodythereof to receive the lower edge of the section 21. Also the top edgeof the tab l is bent downwardly over and clamped upon the top ends ofthe strips 22, 23 and-2+h To prevent movement of :theholder'lQQlateraIly of the tab i, an ear 27ais struck from the metal of thetab and turned over into an aperture "formed inthe section 21.

ltis to be understood that the holders 19,:projectfromthe 'top of thetabs l to approximately the same extent as the thingies 7 project at thebottom. and it is there tore clear that all of the tabs 4 will be heldin parallelisn'i. The tabs 5, being integral with the leaves 3; are ofcourse retained in paralellism with respect to the tabs 'lfhr spacedposition of the tabs hand the inclination oi the holder 19. enablesl'lie op erator to obtain a clear view of the index cards carried by thetabs.

In assemblingthe device the leaves are arranged ininc necl position, theupper portion of the tabs being the more distant from the operator. Thisfurther inclination of the tabs not only enables the operator to obtaina better view of the index cards 25, but also takes advantage of gravityin the restoration of any shifted leaves to normal position.

In order to limit forward movement of the leaves and to positivelyrestore them from shifted position to normal, rearwardly-iin clinedposition, I utilize integrallyconnected pressure plates 28, 9.8 whichare fixed on a rod 29, extending across the front of the de vice andpivotally mounted adjacent the up per surface of the base 1. The plates28, 28 are of the same general shape as the tabs 4:, of the leaves 3,the general arrangement being such that the plate 28 is directly infront ofthe first tab l in tliorow A, and the plate is similarlypositioned with respect to the front tab 5 of the row B. The rod 29 issub ject to the influence of a spring 30, which always exerts itstendency to press the plates 28 and 28 against the'adjacent tabs t and 5respectively, or against any papers which may have accumulated in frontof said tabs, the plate 28 contacting the index holder 19, if no papersare positioned in front-thereof. hilanifestly the spring may bedifferently disposed and accomplish the same result. It will beunderstood that, during the sorting operation, many papers will beplaced between adjacent tabs, and cause a pressure tending to separatesaid tabs. It is intended that the tabs shall separate as the spacesbetween them become filled, and to facili tate the separation I providea rack bar 31 on each side of the device, mounted in a groove formed inthe upper surface of the base 1. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, theteeth of the rack bar 31 are flush with the upper surface of saidbase 1. A slide 32, terminating at each end in an upward extension 33,is slidably mounted on and extends across said base 1, and is providedwith a perforated ear 34: on each side. A shaft 35 extendsthrough theperforations in the ears 34: and, on each side, carries a gear wheel 36which meshes with the teeth in the racks 31, one end of the shaft 35extending through a slot 37, formed longitudinally through one side 2 ofthe housing, and being equipped with an operating wheel 38. The otherend of the shaft has bearing in the slide and the side wall :2. The vertical extensions are integral parts of the slide and extend upwardly andbear against the rear tabs and 5 respectively, retaining said tabs inproper position.

When the papers are sufficiently accumulated between the tabs at and 5,the operator turns the wheel 38 to the rear, causing rearward movementof the slide 2 and the extension 33, and permitting an expansion of thespaces between the tabs a and 5, the

expansion being caused automatically by the papers being compressedbetween said tabs, or the operator may manually push backwardly any tabor tabs which are preventing the automatic expansion.

While the device so far described is capable of any classificationsorting, the embodiment herein shown has been adapted, by theinstallation of the required indices, to the bank check sorting ofcertain unit of the clearing houses for the regional banks of thedistricts of the State of Maryland. The clearing houses clear for themember banks of the Federal Reserve System, and also for the non-memberbanks, the checks being drawn on banks of both classes, and being sortedin accordance with the names of the banks upon which the checks aredrawn. In some cases the sort may be effected on the device of thepresent invention by arranging them in accordance with the names of thebanks, irrespective of their member or non-member atiiliations, or theymay be assorted as members and non members. Assuming that there are 104ibanks which clear through the clearing house handling the unit referredto, there would be 52 of the leaves 3 provided, in the embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated and described. This structure would providea row of 52 of the tabs t, and 52 of the tabs 5, and the indicia on eachof the tabs a would contain the names of two of the banks of thisparticular unit of the system. If the sort is to be made without regardto the afliliations as member or nonmember the arrangement of theindices on the cards 25 in the tabs t may be arbitrary, each cardcarrying the names of two banks, such as Denton l at l. and Essex Com,respectively representing the National Bank of Den'ton, Maryland, andthe Essex Commercial Bank of Essex, lVIaryland. In the sort, when aDenton Natl check is reached, the tab at, bearing the index card 25 ofthat bank, is pulled forwardly and the check dropped in the spaceprovided between the tabs 4 in the row A. Later, when an Essex Com checkis reached, the same tab is pulled forwardly, and the check droppedbetween the opened tabs 5 in the row B. It is understood that the tabs lcollectively bear a complete list of every bank in the particular unitwhich is cleared through the particular clearing house handling this,sort. Consequently, when all of the checks are assorted, all checksdrawn on the Den ton Natl bank will have been collected in a compartmentin the row A, between two adjacent tabs 4, and similarly, all checksdrawn on the Essex Com will have been deposited in a compartment in therow B, between the tabs 5. In other words, all the che ks on a l of theanks in this till particular unit, will have lbeen =so distrib uted andcollected, 'thatall checks drawn on each of the banks are inseparatecompartnients.

If it is desiredtosortbymember and non-member b anks, the member bankswill preferably be indicated -at'theleftbf the index cards 25 and thenon-member banks at t'he right. All checksdra'vvn on'a" inernher bankwill then be deposited in the row A, and all checks drawn on aIIOIPITIGHI- ber bank \villthen bedeposited in the low E. ltivill benoted that this particularschelne comprehends 'adouble sort, in thatall'of the checks'are not only collected intogroups each containing onlychecks drawn on one bank, but that'the meniber bank checks are all 1nrow A,a11d 'thenon-1nembe1" hank checksare all in row B. There arenumerous arbitrary methods of sorting whichlnay be practiced with thedevice of WlllCll an embodiment is herein disclosed,

as will be understood, and, as before stated, the numberotclasslfications maybeextended to include not only the rows Aand B, butalso 21911111113 additional rows as the particular Kvork inay'require.

In the post otlice letter carrier-sort to arrange the mail forhouse-to-house deliveryftheindices 'Wouldcarry 1316112111185 of streets,buildings,eto. Inthe sort of the sales 511133 for department stores, the"indices 25*would'carry letters,* words or numer- "als. to indicate theseparate departments,

opened at the will of the operator;butwhich occupy aniiniinum of space,the device-described being capable of holding4000 checks and beingonly'18 inches wide and 16 inches long, occupying "a very smallproportion of the space which would berequired for a pigeomhole battery"for the same bank unit sort.

The device closes the tabs automatically upon the release ofanytabe-ithich has been pulled" forward to "provide the necessary opening,since suchpull is against'the influence of the spring 30, "which spring,as-

sistefd by gravity, immediately presses the plates 28. 28 "against thefront tabs 4 and firespectlively. and immediately restores said tubs andall u'nshi'fted tabs "in the row, Z-lainping the checks therebetween.

As shown in Fig. 3, the platform l0,'"upon which'the edges of the checksrest, is of such height relative "to the 'tabs etfthat, when the loweredges of'the checks 'are upon the' alatform-the upper portion of thecheck is "belowthe top of the ta s and 'hnte does usestn 1 not in -anyWay obscure the index cards 25 carried by 1 the tabs. @Vlovement "of theleaves laterally of the device, in either direction, is prevented "bythe edges'ot the platform-I0 iind'the SidesQ. Vertical movement-of-'the'-leaves -is prei 'ented by the platform 10. In order to moredefinitely limit such verticalmovenient however, I. provide a bead =10which isformed longitudinally in the surfaceof the platform 10,and-extends downwardl -to a point immediately abovethe top otthe'leaveswhen in the highest position of'their pivotal movement. Obviously a-stopstrip could be applied to the under surface of the platform if desired.

To facilitate tlieulse of the cleric-e1 have provided a check or-paperholder comprising a-"downwvardly inclined table 39 located at theirontof the device between the' rows A and B. The table 39 is detachablysecured to the front rail Sby means of an extension 40,provided "withtwo apertures etl, 41, --large1-atthe bottom than at the top. Saidapertures are sodormed that the lower portions fit over headed boltscarried by tl1e"ra il"8. The table isthen pushed downwardly an d thebolts slide into the narrowed portions of said :apertures, anddetachably se ure the table in position: Connected to thefront 'edge ofthe table, isa i ertieally eXtendingpIate- LQ, as clearly illustrated inFig.1. In-use the checks to be assortedaredeposited face upwardly on thetable 3S), directly below the eyes of the operator, and are'opressedinwardly'to- Wards said plate 42. The pressure results in the checksbeing fanned at their rear edge, "greatly "facilitating the work of theoperator "in removing' a, single check at a time for deposit in the:mppropriate space provided. The operator pulls the tabs 4 with; theleft hanch'tmd with the right hand deposits the cheeks between theappropriate tabs in thespaoes provided.

hileIhave here shown the -spacerclements 7 "as an integrally formedflange, and While this is the pl-eferred constructiomit is obvious thatotheroneans lnay he carried by the :leaves toinaintain the desiredseparation thereof. ltls also understoodthat the holders '1!) liir theindex cards maybe provided by any snrtable structure, so lou g astheyclearly display the mdices whlle the device is in operation.

In tlie-soi'tlngof small-units it is of course possibleto*-e'flicie11tly utilize a device such as described, but provided'Wllill only the row A' of the 'tabs' t, in which case the "index cart535wouldcontain onlyone deatguatlon oi? class. liut in inostnf thexclassmama lot of papers being sorted, would also be so long that the operatorcould not easily reach the tabs at or near the end of the row.Furthermore the device would be without certain of the advantages of thedevice clescribed, in that, having only one row of tabs the operatorcould not have the benefit or the va iance in classification betweensepa rated rows.

It is of course understood that the leaves 3 may be removed as desired,or new leaves inserted. In such cases the thumb screws 13 are loosenedand the platform 10 lifted on its pivots 11, and a leaf may be liftedout, or an additional leaf inserted.

Various modifications of the structure herein disclosed may be suggestedto those skilled in the art, but my invention covers all embodimentsfalling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sorting device comprising a plurality of movable ele nents eachprovided with a plurality of tabs, the tabs of the several elementsbeing arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, each element beingprovided with a plurality of sets of indicia, each set of which isclassified in accordance with the classification of one of said rows,and means spacing each element of each row from the adjacent element inthe same row.

2. A sorting device comprising a. plurality of movable elementspositioned on edge and arranged in a row, each element being providedwith a plurality of tabs extending above the body portion of theelement, means facilitating the operation of separating one tab from anadjacent tab in the row, and means forautomatically restoring said tabto a normal position.

3. A sorting machine comprising a. multiplicity of separator elementspositioned on edge, each element being provided with a plurality ofspaced tabs forn'iing a plurality of rows, classification indiciacarried by one of the tabs on each element, and a paperreceivingplatform positioned between said rows,

11. A sorting device leaf providiul with a plurality of laterallyseparated tabs, an integrally formed spacing projection formed on thelower portion of said leaf, and an index pocket carried by the top ofone of said tabs.

5. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements postionedon edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and avertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted toreceive papers therebetween, and a pla form mounted in position tosupport the ends of the said papers.

6. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements positionedon edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and avertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted toreceive papers therebetween, each element being mounted for movementlongitudinally of said row, and means for limiting lateral and verticalmovement of each element.

7. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced element-spositioned on edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion anda vertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adaptedto rcceive paper therebetween, a platform covering said body portionsand adapted to support the ends of the said papers, and means carried bysaid platform and adapted to limit lateral movement of said papers.

8. A sorting device comprising a plurality of spaced elements positionedon edge in a row, each element comprising a body portion and avertically extending tab, the tabs of adjacent elements being adapted toreceive papers therebetween, a platform covering the body portions ofall elements in the row, and means carried by the platform and extendingbelow the. body thereof, adapted to limit vertical movement of saidelements.

9. A sorting device comprising a multiplicity of spaced elements eachcomprising a body portion. carrying a plurality of laterallv snaced tabsformin )arallel rows of t tabs adapted to receive papers thereln-u wcen,a platform extending in parallelism with said rows of tabs and over saidbody portions, and a support for promiscuously arranged paperspositioned at the front end of said platform.

10. A sorting device comprising a multi plicity of spaced elementsarranged in a row and each mounted for movement longitudinally of saidrow, each element comprising a body portion carrying a plurality ofvertically extending and definitely spaced tabs adapted to receivepapers therebetween and forming parallel rows of tabs, and a platformextending over the body portion of Hailtl elements and between the tabs11. A sorting device comprising a plural ity of elements positioned onedge in a row. each element crnnprising a body portion carrying aplurality of vertically extending labs: adapted to receive paperstherebetwemi and forming parallel rows of tabs, and a pivotally mountedplatform extending over said body portions between said tabs, and meansfor securing said platform against pivotal movement.

12. A sorting device comprising a plurality of elements positioned onedge in a row, each element comprising a body portion carrying aplurality of vertically extending sorting tabs and a verticallyextending paper-supporting stub, and a platform extending over said bodyportions and between the rows formed by said tabs, said plat-form beingprovided with an elongated slot emma adapted to' pass overandflsurroundtthe row a body portionv and a plurality of laterallyformed by said stubs.

13. A sorting device comprising a, multiplicity of spaced elementsarranged in a row and adapted to receive papers therebetween, meanscontacting the front element and con stantly urging the otherelementsback- Wardly in said row, means resisting-such backwardmovement, and manually operable means for releasing said resistance.

It. A sorting-device comprisinga-1nultiplicity otspaced elementsarranged m aa'ow,

said elements being separately movable longitudinally ot sanbrovv andadapted to re" ceive papers therebetween, means constantlypressingagainst the front element of the row, a stop member bearing against-therear element and limiting rearward movement thereof, and means formoving said -stop men'iber longitudinally or, SilltllOWb A sortingdevice con'iprising a multn plicity oi spaced elements arranged ill-litclincd position in a row and adaptedjto receive papers therelietwccn,and a-spring )resfeed Jlate contactin the-outer surface of the frontelementot said' row, whereby to always return any moved elementto itsnormally inclined position.

16. A sorting device comprising a multiplicity oi? spaced elementsarranged'in ai-row and adaptedto receive papers therebetween, eachelement being mountedon lts edge to permit pivotal movement,andbeingalso movable longitudinally of said row, aspring pressed plateconstantly exerting its 1nflu ence to pivotally shift the front elementrear Wardly, a memberpositioned against and limiting rearward bodymovement of, the rear elementlongitudinally 111 said row, andmeans formoving said member outwo'fcontact with said rear element;

17. A sorting device comprising aplnrality of separator elementsarranged ina row, each member beingseparatelymovable iongitndinallyof-said row, a stop member normally limiting rearwardmovement of saidelements, and rack mechanism connected to said member whereby the lattermay bemoved nreach direction longitudinally of said row,

18. A sortingdevice comprising a pluralityof separator elements arrangedin a row, each member belngseparately movable longitudmally of sald row,astop memberinormally limiting rearward movement of said elements, rackmechanism connected to said member whereby'the latter may be moved ineach direction longitudinally of said row,

and means constantly pressing all the elements rearwardly in said row.

19.. A' leaf for sorting; devicescomprisinga body portionand a:plurality of laterally separatedtabs extending therefrom, and a spacerabutment forming a part ot-the leaf.

20. A leafior sorting devices comprising sification indicia carried byoneoi said tabs.

22, A leaf for-sorting devices, comprising a body portioirand aplurality of separated and variously classified tabs extendingtherefrom;and ind-ieia carriedby one oi saidtabs and denoting the classificationof= all the tabs A lcai for sorting devices, comprising a bodyportionand a plurality of separated tabs extending therefrom, classilic:

tion indicia carried by one of said tabs, and 35 means carried by theleaf and adapted to space it from a juxtaposed leaf.

an A leat' for sorting devices comprising a body portion, an assortingtab extending from saidbody portion, and a papcr-snpportingstub'extending from said'body portion and located in the-plane of saidtab;

25. A leai ior sorting devices comprising a bodyportion, aplu'rality ofspaced assort ing-tabs extending from said body portion, and apaper-supporting stub extendingi'rom said body portion andlocatedbetweensaid tabs;

26: A leaf-for sorting devices comprising abody portion, a plurality ofspaced assortingtabsextending from said body portion, afpapensupportingstub extending from said body portiodjand located between saidtabs, anda paper=snpporting extension carried at the end of said body portion.

27. A lea-f for sorting devices comprising abody portion carrying onitslowercdge an integrally formed spacer element provided Witha roundedbottom, a plurality of'spaced vertically extendingtabscarried by theupper'portion of said leaf, and an indexcar bythe upper portion-of saidleaf, and-indicia carried by one of said tabs denoting theclassification of all the tabs.

29JAI1-inClX holdertor sorting tabs, comprisinga bodyportion, resilient'flanges connected atone edge to said'body portion and extending at ananglethereto, parallel cardretainingcl'ips connected to said bodyportion and 1 extending in a plane above the plane of said flanges,andmeans for securing said flanges and body portion to said tab. 1

30. An index holder "for sorting tabs, com- Cil prising a body portion,resilient flanges connected at one edge to said body portion andextending at an angle thereto, parallel cardretaining clips connected tosaid body portion and extending in a plane above the plane of saidflanges, and means for securing said flanges and body portion to saidtab,

said means comprising upturned clips struck from the tab and supportingthe bottom edge of said body portion, and a flange extending from thetop edge of said tab and clan'iping said card-retaining clips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. COX, JR.

